West Indies Turn The Tables on Pakistan to Win the Second Test in Multan

Pakistan’s insistence on using a spinning track became their undoing in the second Test match at Multan, as West Indies exploited the conditions to secure a 120-run win and level the series 1-1.

In a Test match defined by unpredictable batting and dominant spin bowling, West Indies bowled Pakistan out for 133 on Day 3, earning their first win in Pakistan in 35 years. Pakistan’s hopes were all but extinguished after a top-order collapse against the spin duo of Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican.

West Indies were bowled out for 163 in their first innings, with Noman Ali wreaking havoc. The left-arm spinner claimed a stellar 6/41, leaving the visitors reeling at 38/7 at one stage. Gudakesh Motie (55 off 87) provided a fighting half-century, while Jomel Warrican chipped in with 36 not out, rescuing the side from complete embarrassment.

In reply, Pakistan faltered on an unfriendly track, managing only 154 in their first innings. Jomel Warrican’s precise left-arm spin earned him 4/43, while Motie picked up 3/49. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with a fighting 49 off 75, but no other batter offered substantial support. Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, and Kamran Ghulam all got starts but fell prey to clever bowling and poor shot selection.

West Indies came out with a clear plan in their second innings, with skipper Kraigg Brathwaite anchoring the innings with a well-crafted 52. Contributions from Amir Jangoo (30), Kevin Sinclair (28), and Tevin Imlach (35) pushed their total to 244, setting Pakistan a tricky target of 254.

Noman Ali added four more wickets to his tally, finishing with match figures of 10/121, while Sajid Khan also claimed four wickets in the second innings.

Pakistan’s chase began disastrously, with Shan Masood and Muhammad Hurraira departing cheaply. Babar Azam offered brief resistance with 31 off 67 balls, but the rest of the batting order crumbled under pressure. Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican were once again the chief architects of Pakistan’s downfall, supported by Gudakesh Motie.

The loss to West Indies in Multan perfectly encapsulates Pakistan’s shortcomings in the Test format. Despite tailoring every advantage in their favor, the hosts failed to produce a meaningful result once again. With the campaign now over, Aqib Javed and the company will look to remedy the situation ahead of bigger challenges.